Defense attorney Joe Hurley refuses to say why he wants the hearing closed to the public, saying only that he believes it's the right thing to do.

A spokesman for the attorney general's office declined to comment.

The Associated Press has asked the judge to reconsider his decision to close the courtroom.

After winning a Republican primary last fall, Bodenweiser suspended his state Senate campaign. He was later charged with multiple counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and unlawful sexual contact involving acts allegedly committed between 1987 and 1990.